US’ Lockheed, Tatas join hands to set up Super Hercules repair, overhaul facility
US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) have announced a “teaming agreement” to expand their business relationship through the C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifter.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) operates a fleet of 12 C-130J aircraft. Lockheed Martin and Tata already have a joint venture called Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited, which operates a plant in Hyderabad producing parts of the C-130J for Lockheed Martin’s global supply chain.
“This announcement marks a significant step in enhancing India’s defence and aerospace capabilities while also deepening India-US strategic ties,” Lockheed Martin said in a statement.
The agreement provides a framework for collaboration on future potential business opportunities on two fronts.
First, it includes establishing a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in India to support the IAF’s existing fleet of 12 C-130Js, as well as those operated by other countries.
Second, the agreement aims to expand manufacturing and assembly facilities in India to produce aircraft for the IAF’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme.
These initiatives will be subject to approvals from both the US and Indian governments. Lockheed Martin will continue building C-130Js for the US government and other global operators — across 23 countries — at its existing Super Hercules production facility in Marietta, Georgia, US. The company will establish additional production and assembly capacity in India if awarded the MTA contract.
The IAF is actively seeking to acquire up to 80 medium transport aircraft and issued a Request for Information (RFI) last year. Lockheed Martin has responded to the RFI, proposing the C-130J.
Sukaran Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of TASL, said, “Collaborating with Lockheed Martin on the C-130J platform proposition for the IAF’s MTA project is a milestone for TASL.”
Invested significantly in expanding ties: Campbell
Meanwhile, US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell has said the United States has invested significantly in expanding its strategic partnership with India and is pursuing a robust agenda to deepen the bilateral cooperation.
Addressing the ongoing India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem Summit in California on Monday, Campbell said successive administrations in Washington and New Delhi have invested time and political capital to bring the partnership to greater heights. (With PTI inputs)
